Thread: Help! What's it worth?

I picked up something of similar vintage ...... from your description similar specs, however mine was without the rust (although yours does only look like surface rust) and had a guard attached ..... all working with 3ph motor from a school for $300.

The big issue is trying to get it home. Mine weighs in at 1.2t and I had to spend over $300 purchasing an engine hoist to move it .

Cheers

Stinky.

Thanks Stinky, your not wrong about the weight, might be a good sea anchor!

They can certainly be good solid machines and a real workhorse if you put a little time into bringing them back to their best. The problem is they are often too big for the average garage woodworker due to space constraints, difficult to move around, and by the time you purchase a new single phase motor if needed you are suddenly up around the same cost as a new 6".

I am still to get mine converted and cleaned up ready for use. I have at least purchased the new motor, starter, paint ..... but just not the time.

There are a few similar ones listed on machines4u for $2-2.5k, but they're painted and pretty and have a guard.
I don't think it would be unreasonable to ask $1200-1700 for it, considering the quality of machines of that vintage. We've had one at work for 100 years and the original bearings lasted for 98 years - it's still sitting in a corner, we just upgraded to a bigger one.
Even with all the modern technology, you still can't compare 5mm plate steel to solid cast iron

As mentioned above, probably too big for the garden shed but they're still great machines

Being 3 phase gives the buyer an advantage IMO.

Not may homes have 3 phase these days

Any business that needs a machine like that
prolly already has it &
is not likely to buy one that needs work &
is unlikely to get a tax advantage on such an old machine.

Given this, the question is not so much what it is worth, but how much are you prepared to pay & how likely is the machine likely to sell if your offer is rejected.

I would offer between $300 & $400 & I recon you will get it.

My brother bought a similar one for $300, bit rusty but we had it cleaned up in about an hour. I bought a 12" in rusty pieces for $400, but that was single phase.

Nearly all my other machines, (except my RAS) I bought new from Leda, but I particularly wanted an old heavy cast iron jointer, & I am so glad that I did. It is not only a great machine, but the restoration was great fun.

https://www.woodworkforums.com/f40/pi...-cheap-126233/




Steve

Thanks for your input guys, if I had the time I would spruce it up like you did with yours Ticky but unfortunately I don't have that time. I'll start it at $1000 and see where it takes me.
Cheers

One indicator on age is the style of the LS Barker logo ... cast-in, bronze plat, etc.

Melbourne Matty aka L.S.Barker1970 is the man for this stuff - obviously

Here he has a bunch of photos ... including the same or very similar jointer:
https://www.woodworkforums.com/f163/l...ml#post1401126

PS - whole thread is interesting.

PPS - I think I can hear his footsteps ...

Cheers,
Paul.

Hi Guys, thanks for the intro Paul, and appologies about my lateness too.
Price wise I can only tell you I have seen planers in this condition go for as cheep as $300 and as pricey as $1400 or more, its a hard thing to find out as other members have indicated, you have to know your market.
as far as how old it is, I would say late 1940's, early 50's.


Here is a catalog cut.


A 1949 Mcphersons Catalog shows your L.S.Barker Machine.


The Brand name MACSON was cast in planers pre L.S.Barker.


What I have always found strange is that some Barker planers had no lettering on the base and later lettering appeared.

Melbourne Matty.

Hi Stinkie,
I remember it well.